National military news
Navy, NASA complete Underway Recovery Test 7
11/6/2018
From U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) successfully completed test recovery operations of NASA’s mock Orion capsule, Nov. 5.
The Underway Recovery Test-7 (URT-7) is part of a U.S. government interagency effort to safely retrieve the Orion crew module, which is capable of carrying humans into deep space.
This marks the first completion of a URT aboard John P. Murtha. NASA engineers worked alongside Sailors from the John P. Murtha, Special Boat Team 12, and Navy divers from Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 11 and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3 to test recovery operations of the Orion test article. Tests were conducted throughout the day and night in varying sea states.
"John P. Murtha was tasked to assist NASA with their seventh Underway Recovery Test. Our crew executed of every assignment given to them flawlessly and their recovery-at-sea experience and dedication directly contributed to our overall mission success,” said Capt. Tony Roach, commanding officer USS John P. Murtha. "I am continually impressed and proud of the outstanding efforts of my crew members during each and every evolution."
San Antonio-class ships have distinctive capabilities essential to NASA’s mission. One of the more important capabilities is the ship’s ability to recover the test capsule using the ship's well deck, designed to launch and recover amphibious craft. John P. Murtha also has the ability to carry and deploy multiple small boats to assist in the recovery process of the capsule, and an advanced medical facility ideal for treating returning astronauts.
The tests allowed NASA and the Navy to continue to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, hardware and personnel in a realistic open-ocean environment before conducting actual recovery operations.
“All test objectives were accomplished as planned,” said Melissa Jones, NASA Landing and Recovery director. “The success of this week would not have been possible without the positivity and experience of the John P. Murtha crew.”
John P. Murtha is homeported in San Diego and is part of U.S. 3rd Fleet.
Commander, U.S. Third Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. They coordinate with Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet to plan and execute missions based on their complementary strengths to promote ongoing peace, security, and stability.

Navy Wounded Warriors demonstrate athletic prowess at 2018 Invictus Games in Australia
10/25/2018
by Kyle Malloy, Navy Wounded Warrior-Safe Harbor Public Affairs
SYDNEY (NNS) -- Months of training toward healing have paid off for fourteen Navy wounded warriors representing the nation and Team USA at the 2018 Invictus Games, an international adaptive multi-sport event currently being held in Sydney, Australia.
The Navy athletes are able to compete in the Invictus Games as part of their enrollment in the Navy’s Wounded Warrior – Safe Harbor program, which is managed by Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and coordinates non-medical care of seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen, and provides resources and support to their families.
More than 550 wounded, ill and injured servicemen and women from 17 allied nations competing in the international competition --going head-to-head in archery, athletics (track and field), indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair rugby, golf and sailing.
Navy Wounded Warrior – Safe Harbor provides individually-tailored assistance designed to optimize the success of the wounded warriors' recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration activities. To learn more, visit www.navywoundedwarrior.com/.

New naval aviator career path
announced
Fall 2018
From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy announced the launch of the Aviation Professional Flight Instructor (PFI) program, designed to improve aviator retention by offering a new career path for officers who have successfully completed an aviation department head tour, Sept. 28, in NAVADMIN 241/18.
Aviators selected by the FY-19 PFI board will return from their department head assignment to serve as flight instructors for a minimum of 36 months, with an option to serve in repeated tours as a flight instructor beyond their initial obligation.
The program will provide selected officers career flexibility, greater assignment stability, and rewarding experiences training the newest naval aviators, with the goals of improving aviator retention and flight instructor manning.
Officers selected for the PFI program can serve until they reach statutory retirement with no further operational assignments, so long as they continue to meet applicable performance standards as a flight instructor.
Officers selected for PFI are no longer eligible for command consideration.
Applications for the first PFI board, scheduled to convene November 20, are now being accepted from qualified 1310 and 1320 designated lieutenant commanders and commanders with a projected rotation date in calendar year 2019.
Full-Time Support and Selected Reserve officers are not eligible to apply for this program.
For program details, eligibility, and application procedures, visit the Navy Personnel Command Aviation Bonus website at https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/officer/Detailing/aviation/Pages/Professional-Flight-Instructor.aspx or read NAVADMIN 241/18 at www.npc.navy.mil.

Family PCS travel flexibility
expanded
Fall 2018
From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy has expanded the eligible categories for advanced dependent travel (ADT) and delayed dependent travel (DDT), personnel officials announced September 13.
For permanent change of station (PCS) moves within the 50 states, the policy allows for dependent travel of up to six months before or after the sponsoring Sailor’s PCS move in the following situations: spousal employment or education, dependents in elementary or secondary school (K-12), dependent enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program, or caring for an immediate family member with a chronic or long-term illness. The previous approved policy that allowed DDT for the length of the school year is unchanged by this expansion.
For moves from the 50 states to overseas locations, only DDT will be authorized. For moves from overseas locations to the 50 states, only ADT will be authorized.
Sailors will only receive one housing allowance, either for their location or their dependent’s location, under delayed or advance travel. Sailors or dependents may be assigned government quarters if available, but may not displace a member or dependent in government housing.
Requests for DDT or ADT must be submitted to Navy Personnel Command (PERS-451).
For information and answers to questions on this policy, email NXAG_N130C@navy.mil.



SoCal military news
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Aug. 21, 2018) Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Jacqueline Francis (left), from New York, assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) combat systems department, trains USS George Washington (CVN 73) Sailors on how to use the Consolidated Afloat Network Enterprise System. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Liz Thompson) (This image has been altered by blurring out badges for security purposes)

Navy office leans forward to enhance afloat technology offerings
10/18/2018
From Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Navy’s Tactical Networks Program Office (PMW 160) developed an inventive contract with industry that will benefit from private-sector expertise to influence the design of the Navy’s premier afloat network.
PMW 160, which is a part of the Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I), recently awarded the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) Baseline Analysis of Alternates Services (BAAS) contract to Lockheed Martin. CANES is the Navy’s afloat Information Warfare Platform on ships and submarines. It uses commercial information technology (IT), networking hardware and core services software to deliver cyber-resilient, assured networking.
BAAS, at its essence, enables an efficient broad-spectrum comparison across commercial off-the-shelf products and services to ensure the Navy gets what it needs for the best value. Through the new contracted effort, PMW 160 and Lockheed Martin will work together on CANES engineering design activities to perform market research, cost analysis, design descriptions and product evaluations to field network capabilities to the fleet faster and more affordably.
“The team was looking for a way to accelerate our engineering efforts and leverage Industry expertise,” said Capt. Kurt Rothenhaus, program manager, PMW 160. Rothenhaus noted, “One of our engineers, working with our contracts specialist, came up with this truly innovative approach in the BAAS to deliver commercial IT to the fleet.”
The program office and larger Navy derive three major benefits from contracting the BAAS work.
Bob Bradley, PMW 160’s chief management officer, said, “First, we partner with industry, leveraging their expertise in areas in which they do well. Second, we have the ability to conduct broad-spectrum continuous market research and predicative obsolescence management. Third, we streamline processes and reduce delivery timelines which will enable us to improve speed to capability.”
Amy Rickey, CANES production specialist, PMW 160, added, “The government often looks to industry for technical innovation. Our job was to find innovative ways to use industry’s expertise to deliver warfighting capability, and the BAAS contract accomplishes that goal.”
Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I) provides integrated communication and information technology systems that enable information warfare and command and control of maritime forces. PEO C4I acquires, fields and supports C4I systems which extend across Navy, joint and coalition platforms. More information can be found at http://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/PEOC4I/Pages/default.aspx





United Through Reading®
Deploying? Service members invited to record stories for family at San Diego USO
United Through Reading® is a program helping ease the stress of separation for military families by having deploying or deployed service members read children’s books aloud via DVD for their family to watch at home. This powerful program is available to all military units. It provides service members a chance to make lasting connections from afar. The DVD recording and the book are mailed to the child and family back home.
Service members who are leaving for training can also take part in this program. Being a parent is not required; service members can send the DVD & book(s) to any special child in their life such as younger sister or brother, niece, nephew or godchild.
On the day of the recording, service members are encouraged to dress in the attire they will be wearing while deployed/training, but this is not required. The room is private, so any special message, or those fun reading voices, will only be heard by the recipient of the DVD recording. USO San Diego has books available, or service members can bring their own. Our volunteers will help set up the camera and then leave the room. The DVD can hold a 30 minute recording.
Please e-mail USO San Diego Staff Member Nichole Duarte at utr@usosandiego.org to make your appointment. This program is offered at both USO San Diego centers.